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newly diagnosed....horrible shoulder blade pain

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Posted 6/21/2011 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone....recently diagnosed after many tests trying to pinpoint the source of my pain. My elbows, heels, knees. Forearms. Etc. All ache. These pains are manageable. What I can't stand is the horrible left shoulder blade pain! It is almost unbearable. Does anyone else have shoulder blade pain....almost feels like a toothache kind of pain. I started cymbalta 2 weeks ago. Hasn't started helping yet :(
Posted 6/21/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Yes! But mine is in my right shoulder blade. I found that a heating pad helps along with having my husband massage it. I also went to physical therapy and they gave me exercises to do to help stretch it.
Posted 6/21/2011 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
I get that too. A "shawl" type hot bag helps and also some gentle stretching exercises I learned in a Feldenkrais class. Tylenol helps take the edge off too.


Freddygirl
Posted 6/21/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Brownie, and welcome!  I'm glad you found us and joined in.  You might try gentle stretching exercises.  These can be found in the thread called Fibro 101...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  The links called Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia would be good to start with...and of course the Gentle Stretching Exercise link, too.

 

One exercise that isn't there is for pain that's in the shoulder blades.  My massage therapist told me about this one.  You bend at the waist and let your arms hang down.  Then  you start swinging your arms loosely and many directions.  It works those hard to reach muscles.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/21/2011 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys....I am definitely gonna try that exercise today. I have actually been reading this site for months because I thought I would probably end up being diagnosed with fibro because every single test came back normal/negative. I have many symptoms but the most worrisome and painful is the shoulder blade pain. It has actually caused me many sleepless nights with anxiety. Guess because it is on my left side and that is where your heart is. Nothing seems to make it go away....it will mysteriously disappear for a few weeks or even a few months but then comes back. I seriously can't stand it.....feels like I need to scrape something out from under my blade or either maybe a rib is popped out and needs to be put back in place.
Posted 6/21/2011 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brownie

The shoulder blade area pain I have is TERRIBLE!! I kept telling my doc about it and they kept thinking it was kidneys. But it's higher than the kidneys. Heating pad is a must. IF you can get a hold of lidocaine patches (I got some from pain doc free-they're expensive) use those for the very worst times. It is a nagging pain and is almost as painful as a kidney infection. You could try those patches for arhtritis etc from drugstore too.
It is aggravating pain you can't get away from-like you said a toothache.

Welcome and good luck
Posted 6/22/2011 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have never found lidociane patches to very useful. They don't stay where you put them without extra tape. And, the medication does not go deep enough to be effective.

As an alternative, I'd like to suggest that you ask your doctor for a prescription for the Flector patch. This is a NON narcotic patch that only works wherever it is applied. It is extremely effective and unlike the lidociane patch generally stays in place.

Another alternative would be a pain killing cream which is made up by a compound pharmacy. It is called Ketoprofen; I use a 20% solution with lidocaine added. It has to be applied to clean, warm skin. Never layer it. I use it after a hot shower or wipe the affected area with rubbing alcohol first. There are compound pharmacies everywhere. If one is not convenient to your home, the script can be called or faxed in and the medication mailed to you.

I hope my comments are helpful. Good luck and take care.
Posted 6/22/2011 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Good ideas Fantod. My patches seem to stay in place but too expensive.

Magie
Posted 6/23/2011 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone....I am having a hard time accepting this diagnosis. I keep thinking what if it is something much more serious, life threatening even. Anyway. Thanks for the good ideas...I think I actually have some lidocaine cream that the orthopedist gave me.
Posted 6/23/2011 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem, except in the right shoulder. Sometimes the pain can be almost unbearable, and it throbs nonstop.

I agree with the others about heat; I will either use a heating pad or get in a really hot shower with the water focused on my shoulder.

I also have one of these: www.amazon.com/Body-Back-10100000003-Buddy/dp/B0006VJ6TO

It's called a Body Back Buddy. It's shaped like an "S," and I use it to work out knots/massage my own shoulder blades. Some days, that is the only thing that gives me any relief.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 6/24/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there.
I'm 17 and have recently been diagnosed too, I'm finding it hard to comprehend but my main goal is to get me stable and understand my body. I think that's the most important thing.
My shoulder blades are my main area of pain, and I find that having them massaged helps alot... Especially when I'm going to sleep. I have an exercise physiologist helping me at the moment and she has given me a few exercised to do to help ease the pain.
1. Rolling your shoulders in a circle movement slowly (you may here rice bubble sounds but that's perfectly normal)
2. Separate your shoulder blades through hugging a pillow. It helps them from seizing up.
3. Put both arms infront cross one over with a straight arm and bend the other arm to hold it in place.

I'm sorry I'm probably not the best at explaining the exercises! But they have helped me greatly. Along with massages and heatpacks.

Take care, Kara :)
Posted 6/24/2011 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
brownie, have you tried seeing an osteopath (D.O.) who does osteopathic manipulation? I actually DID have a rib out of place that was causing pain in that area, and the osteopath was able to "pop" it back in. It took a few visits before it actually stayed in. Seems worth trying.
Posted 6/24/2011 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Heather.....I feel like their is something out of place back there. But I have had mri's, Ct's, and xrays...nothing has showed up. I can't even tell if it is bone or muscle pain....it just hurts! I can't stand it!
Posted 6/24/2011 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Brownie,
I have the same issues as you have. I went to a chiropractor and other doctors and had so many test and stuff. They found mostly nothing, except my cervical bones in my neck where growing backwards, but the chiropractor said it did not cause the other pains and things I have. I have pain everywhere in my muscle, bones, and everywhere. I am 32 and feel like I am a million years old. Going to a chirpractor and getting their x-rays is much better. A regular doctor would just look at Pathology, which would find no bone tumors or anything (which my Primary care did). The chiropractor saw the exact same x-ray and had pointed out the cervical bone issues and they are more trained to point out things that regular doctor can't see or know. My chiropractor and also neurologist had done the tender points thing and I had them everywhere. I am going to see a Fibromyalgia specialist who works in my Neurologist's center and also a tremor specialist because I severe tremor. Good luck Brownie and I hope things get straightened out for you.
Posted 5/15/2014 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
It's been 3 years since these posts, have any of you figured out what this shoulder blade pain is from? And any ways to get rid of?
Thanks
Posted 5/15/2014 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't heard from brownie in three years.
I have terrible shoulder pain but it's from bursitis. People, like me, with lupus have a tendency to develop bursitis very easy.
Posted 5/15/2014 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I also have left shoulder blade pain! It's probably the worst of my symptoms.

I've been doing exercises and stretches every day and they have been helping a ton. I have tramadol for pain, but I dont need it as much now that ive been doing these.

Avoid sleeping on that side too, ive found that helps a lot more too.

Best of luck to you!
Posted 5/22/2014 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have just joined and put a post on asking if anyone been to a chiropractor, I have this same pain and it's driving me 'nuts'. it's like toothache as someone said, I'm hoping they will be able to do something g to ease the pain.
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